No fewer than seven people have perished and a significant number are lost in the wake of a boat carrying about 200 people attempting to reach Europe sank off the coast of The Gambia, reports confirm.
The vessel capsized late Wednesday night close to Jinack village in the northern bank region and it was subsequently discovered "grounded on a sandbank", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people have been rescued so far and a hunt is ongoing for those still missing who were traveling on the sunken boat that was heading towards the Spanish Canary Islands.
The hazardous trip over the Atlantic has grown into a more frequent path for African migrants trying to reach Europe.
Nearly forty-seven thousand migrants made it to the Canaries in last year and figures suggest over nine thousand individuals perished trying.
Ongoing Mission
Following the Wednesday incident, Gambia's naval forces began a rescue mission, involving a number of military boats and a fishing boat that joined the effort, the military reported.
Officials state a number of those who died are not from The Gambia and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The deceased of the seven individuals who died have been retrieved, and 10 of those rescued are said to be in grave health and undergoing emergency treatment.
An Established Corridor
Gambia is one of the routes taken by migrants trying to reach the EU, often on dangerous journeys by sea and land.
In recent years, the European Union has reached agreements with multiple Maghreb states with the goal of limiting irregular migration.
